Ammonia leak leads to evacuations and road closures in Langley

An ammonia leak at a petfood manufacturing company caused evacuations and road closures in Langley on Wednesday. The leak, from a refrigeration system, was reported just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Township of Langley Fire Department says it will be at least 40 hours before the area can be declared safe.

Temporary road closures were in effect for:

56th Avenue and 272nd Street;

275th Street and Gloucester Way;

268th Street and Gloucester Way;

East of the 26800-block of Townshipline Road.

Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Ferguson says the ammonia leaked when a refrigeration system failed, but maintenance contractors had contained it by the time firefighters arrived so there is no danger to the public.

However, Ferguson says the fire department has evacuated businesses within a 400-metre radius of the Gloucester Industrial Estates in case the contractors’ vacuum pumps fail.

He says an ammonia alarm would have gone off at the facility, prompting a call to refrigeration contractors.

“The fire department has evacuated affected businesses, and others in the area that have not yet opened will not open as access is not available,” the Township of Langley said in a news release.

“For those who may be in the area, but have not been contacted by the fire department, we ask that you shelter in place until further instructions are provided.”

Ammonia is used as a refrigerant and a leak can corrode the skin, eyes and lungs.